Rainy weather clouds emotional health

Published: Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 6:33 p.m.

Feeling blue this summer? It might be the lack of blue skies.

Local therapists and psychologists say the rainy, overcast conditions that have dominated this summer’s weather can put normally cheery people in the dumps and may make things seem bleaker for those diagnosed with depression.

According to the National Weather Service, the Asheville airport has received 22.4 inches of rain since June 1, two-and-half times the normal amount. NWS records indicate overcast skies prevailed half the month of July.

“It certainly can affect peoples’ depression levels,” said Maria White, a Hendersonville therapist who practices with Resilient Journeys and Parkway Behavioral Health. “Folks might be less likely to get out and do their regular routines. They may stay in bed longer.”

For most people, weather-related blues classify as “situational depression” and will likely improve when the sun returns and they can return to their routines, said Laura Greenlee, a psychotherapist who recently moved her practice from Hendersonville to Arden.

“People are just going stir crazy or having cabin fever, because it’s been a rough summer,” she said. “But if (their depression) continues, persist and doesn’t get better, then they probably need to go seek help.”

Psychologists have known for years that long periods of low light can bring people down. Darkness prompts the pineal gland in the brain to produce melatonin, which helps us sleep. Daylight has the opposite effect, producing serotonin, which promotes alertness and helps elevate mood.

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression thought to stem from lowered light levels brought on by changing seasons. Mild forms affect between 10 and 20 percent of the U.S. population, most often in the wintertime, but a minority of patients suffer from what’s known as “summer-onset” SAD.

“The lack of sunshine is associated with feeling down, particularly with people who are already depressed,” said Valerie Levine, a Hendersonville psychologist. “But I think the season we’ve had is atypical, so it’s difficult to say how it would affect SAD.”

Serotonin levels aside, Levine and other local therapists say gloomy, rainy weather that lasts for days can cause emotional distress by disrupting peoples’ lives.

“People have been frustrated with the weather,” Levine said. “They might be stuck indoors together, particularly with kids being home in the summer. Usually kids are outside playing and now with the rain, it’s harder to entertain them. Older people are home more often than usual, which can lead to feeling down.”

Dr. Jean Parks, a Flat Rock-based psychologist, said she’s not aware of any research linking gray, rainy conditions with depression.

“And I’ve not had anyone come in and say, ‘I was doing okay until this dark summer,’” she said. “But some of my current clients, who are fighting depression, have said they have to work a little harder to keep active and keep their mood up when it is rainy several days in a row.”

Parks and other mental health professionals say exercise is an important tool for fighting both anxiety and depression, and this summer has not been conducive to outdoor activity.

Greenlee also prescribes exercise or other activities to ward off the rainy-day blahs.

“If they’re pre-disposed to depression, exercise is going to be very helpful, so maybe they need to find a way to work out inside,” she said. “Or maybe it’s time to purge their closets and get rid of their unwanted things. It’s a way to lift your mood and stay busy.”

It also helps to keep to a daily routine, White advised, even if rain has delayed normal activities and the dark clouds make you want to pull the covers back over your head.

“If they get up at a certain time and eat their breakfast at a certain time, try to stick to that,” she said. “Getting out of the routine can lead to a further depressed state. The worst thing you can do when you’re depressed is stay in bed.”

<p>Feeling blue this summer? It might be the lack of blue skies. </p><p>Local therapists and psychologists say the rainy, overcast conditions that have dominated this summer's weather can put normally cheery people in the dumps and may make things seem bleaker for those diagnosed with depression.</p><p>According to the National Weather Service, the Asheville airport has received 22.4 inches of rain since June 1, two-and-half times the normal amount. NWS records indicate overcast skies prevailed half the month of July.</p><p>“It certainly can affect peoples' depression levels,” said Maria White, a Hendersonville therapist who practices with Resilient Journeys and Parkway Behavioral Health. “Folks might be less likely to get out and do their regular routines. They may stay in bed longer.”</p><p>For most people, weather-related blues classify as “situational depression” and will likely improve when the sun returns and they can return to their routines, said Laura Greenlee, a psychotherapist who recently moved her practice from Hendersonville to Arden. </p><p>“People are just going stir crazy or having cabin fever, because it's been a rough summer,” she said. “But if (their depression) continues, persist and doesn't get better, then they probably need to go seek help.”</p><p>Psychologists have known for years that long periods of low light can bring people down. Darkness prompts the pineal gland in the brain to produce melatonin, which helps us sleep. Daylight has the opposite effect, producing serotonin, which promotes alertness and helps elevate mood.</p><p>Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression thought to stem from lowered light levels brought on by changing seasons. Mild forms affect between 10 and 20 percent of the U.S. population, most often in the wintertime, but a minority of patients suffer from what's known as “summer-onset” SAD. </p><p>“The lack of sunshine is associated with feeling down, particularly with people who are already depressed,” said Valerie Levine, a Hendersonville psychologist. “But I think the season we've had is atypical, so it's difficult to say how it would affect SAD.”</p><p>Serotonin levels aside, Levine and other local therapists say gloomy, rainy weather that lasts for days can cause emotional distress by disrupting peoples' lives. </p><p>“People have been frustrated with the weather,” Levine said. “They might be stuck indoors together, particularly with kids being home in the summer. Usually kids are outside playing and now with the rain, it's harder to entertain them. Older people are home more often than usual, which can lead to feeling down.”</p><p>Dr. Jean Parks, a Flat Rock-based psychologist, said she's not aware of any research linking gray, rainy conditions with depression.</p><p>“And I've not had anyone come in and say, 'I was doing okay until this dark summer,'” she said. “But some of my current clients, who are fighting depression, have said they have to work a little harder to keep active and keep their mood up when it is rainy several days in a row.”</p><p>Parks and other mental health professionals say exercise is an important tool for fighting both anxiety and depression, and this summer has not been conducive to outdoor activity.</p><p>“When weather doesn't permit that, it's important to find alternative ways to get that exercise,” Parks said.</p><p>Greenlee also prescribes exercise or other activities to ward off the rainy-day blahs. </p><p>“If they're pre-disposed to depression, exercise is going to be very helpful, so maybe they need to find a way to work out inside,” she said. “Or maybe it's time to purge their closets and get rid of their unwanted things. It's a way to lift your mood and stay busy.”</p><p>It also helps to keep to a daily routine, White advised, even if rain has delayed normal activities and the dark clouds make you want to pull the covers back over your head. </p><p>“If they get up at a certain time and eat their breakfast at a certain time, try to stick to that,” she said. “Getting out of the routine can lead to a further depressed state. The worst thing you can do when you're depressed is stay in bed.”</p><p>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</p>